Duma committee supports expanding operation of "anti-Magnitsky" bill

The author of the initiative is lawmaker representing the All-Russia People's Front Mikhail Starshinov

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MOSCOW, December 18 (Itar-Tass) — The committee for constitutional legislation and state development under the State Duma lower house of the Russian parliament supported the amendment to expand the operation of the "anti-Magnitsky" bill to the states which, like the USA, decided to ban the entry into their countries and arrest the assets of those Russians who they believe are involved in violation of human rights.

The author of the initiative is lawmaker representing the All-Russia People's Front Mikhail Starshinov /United Russia faction/. It was submitted to the house's dedicated committee earlier on Tuesday.

On Monday, the State Duma committee for constitutional legislation and state development supported the amendment to ban the adoption of Russian children by U.S. citizens, as well as the denunciation of the Russian-U.S. child adoption agreement.

The amendments were brought forward by United Russia deputies and their colleagues from the Liberal Democratic Party by the 2nd reading of the law on measures of influence on persons involved in violation of Russian citizens' rights, which is Moscow's answer to the Magnitsky Act approved by the U.S. Congress.

Yekaterina Lakhova, one of the authors of the latest amendments, told Tass that aside from direct adoption of Russian children by U.S families, there is also a ban on the operation of the agencies that select children from Russia for adoptive parents from the USA.

Also on Tuesday, United Russia lawmakers criticized the education minister for his critical remarks about the proposed amendments.

The State Duma will review the second reading of the "anti-Magnitsky" bill on Wednesday, December 19.